I have a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. The group, Serendipitydodah for Moms, has more than 2,000 moms and continues to grow. It is a place where we share a lot of support and information.

A common concern this time of year among the moms in the group are holiday gatherings with friends and family.

Jaron Terry, one of the moms in Serendipitydodah for Moms , shares some tips on how to turn our holiday jitters into holiday joy.

Jaron is a public relations professional, Mama Bear and VP of the board of PFLAG Columbus.

If you’re cringing at the thought of listening to Uncle Joe praise the election outcome while he carves the Thanksgiving turkey, or you’re already shaking with anger knowing in advance just what kind of homophobic jokes, racist slurs, and woman-bashing BS will mingle with the aroma of pine needles and cinnamon, then you might want to arm yourself with an iron-clad plan for surviving the upcoming holidays – especially if that carving knife is sharp.

Here are 8 tips to help ensure your gatherings with family and friends are infused with the musical strains of “Noel” instead of heated shouts of “Hell No!”

1. Just stay home. Determine whether or not to go: Do you really need to attend that family dinner, head to your hometown or show up at that church event? This might just be the year to gracefully bow out. If you, like me and some of my Mama Bear friends – mothers who love and affirm their LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning) children – woke up November 9 worried that your child’s civil rights, as well as their physical safety, mental wellness, and spiritual health, are in danger, perhaps you don’t need to be with people who are telling you you’re just overreacting or being melodramatic.

2. Go it alone. If you do decide to risk what you think might turn ugly, consider your child. If your LGBTQ offspring is an adult, allow them to make their own decision. Don’t “guilt” them into coming with you or show disappointment if they stay home. A holiday is just that: one day. Your queer teen should also be given the opportunity to choose. If their friend with an affirming family has invited them, think how much they will enjoy a warm, loving, accepting atmosphere. However, if your child is young, why would you risk their overhearing negative comments about Marriage Equality or dreadful discussions about where transgender people can pee? I encourage you to take another look at Tip #1.

3. Choose your method. Before you put together your famous cranberry mold (that nobody eats, anyway) or stick a single bow on a package, start thinking now about what you will or won’t say and do in response to an ugly situation. You know your family members better than anyone and should consider in advance whether there is an opportunity to educate, if it’s better to just change the subject, or if you should simply walk away.

5. Speak up. Just as every family has its own traditions, they generally have their own sense of what they call humor. Anticipate in advance what kind of comments you can expect to hear. Yes, it’s hard to make space in your head for ugly remarks like the ones we heard during and after the campaign. And, it’s even harder to consider the horrifying actions recently reported, demonstrating the level of vitriol some in our country feel toward persons of color, immigrants, women and LGBTQ people. However, doing so will not only toughen you against the sting, but more importantly, give you time to formulate your response. It may be as simple as, “I respectfully ask that we not discuss the election results, because we all know we don’t agree.” Or, when inappropriate things are said, “I prefer not to hear such comments, Uncle Joe, and ask that you not make them when I’m here.”

6. Fight Fire with Fire. Or, maybe you’re the kind that relishes the opportunity to “go there” and shout them down – slashing and burning with words that cut as sharp as the ones they throw at your child. Again, from my own experience of going that route with now former friends, you might first ask yourself how important keeping family relationships intact is to you. If the answer is “very,” then I refer you back to Tip #1 – perhaps it’s better to sit this year out. Send your excuses in a letter that is explicit about why you’re not coming (assuming you’ve already unfriended them on Facebook). If you or your child does not think its safe to be open with them, don’t hesitate to make up an excuse (the dog ate the tree!).

7. Have an Exit Plan. If you’ve decided to attend the festivities, make an exit plan before you head to the airport or pack the trunk of your car. One thing I don’t want you to do is to sit silent and “take it” as hateful words and messages swirl around you and your child. That’s not healthy for you and certainly not for your child – especially if they are not yet out. The level of self-harm, including suicide, is unacceptably high among children and teens who do not feel supported by their families. Your child needs to know that they are your first priority and that you can be counted on in any situation. Predetermine a “safe word” with your spouse or travelling companion. Be sure you both agree that the moment either of you – or your child – utters the word, an exit is made. It can be as simple as “gingerbread!” or a phrase such as “Did you turn the oven off?” Be prepared to just walk away.

8. Enjoy! If you’re among the increasing number of people whose extended family members completely accept – and affirm – your child’s sexual orientation and gender identity, that wonderful. In that case, I invite you to find every opportunity to make your views known, through speaking, writing and taking action by standing up against homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia, misogyny and anything that seeks to “other” those who should be treated as a neighbor. Hug your child, hug yourself, and enjoy the holidays!

Serendipitydodah for Moms is a private Facebook group created as an extension of the Serendipitydodah blog. The group is set up so only members can see who is in the group and what is posted there. The group was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 2,000 members. The space was specifically created for open minded Christian moms who have LGBT kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBT kids.

Every year at this time my heart breaks for so many of my lgbtq friends as they have to agonize over the kind of reception they will or will not receive from family. Will they be invited? Will their husband or wife be welcome? Will they be expected to act straight? Will they be gossiped about before, during and/or after the get together? Should they go? Should they decline? If they don’t go should they explain why? If they go should they act straight? If they go should they pretend that their boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife is nothing more than a good friend?

It’s easy to tell them to not have anything to do with people who don’t completely accept and affirm who they are but it’s so hard to be alienated from one’s family and this time of year accentuates the pain and sorrow. I’ve noticed over the years that most people will go to great lengths to stay connected to family, even when it is hard or painful, and most kids will especially go to great lengths to stay connected to their parents.

So, when I feel my heart breaking over these things my next thought is not to tell them to stay away from the hurt and do their own thing, even though that may be good advice. No, my next thought is …

Come on, people!! Let’s demonstrate the spirit of love this season! Let’s hand out some radical, extravagant love and grace to the lgbtq people in our lives. Let’s make our homes a haven of love and acceptance this season. Let’s call them up and encourage them to bring their significant other … and call their significant other by their name and use the correct label (boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband). And when they arrive let’s hug them and tell them how happy we are they are with us and how much we love them just the way they are. If they are a couple let’s introduce them as the couple they are. Let’s ask them about their life and what has been going on. If they got engaged let’s congratulate them. If they are planning a wedding let’s find out all about it and let them know how happy we are for them and the life they are building together. If they got married let’s encourage them to tell us about all the wonderful details of their wedding. If they are new parents or hoping to be soon let’s join with them in their joy and excitement.

Let’s show them we are safe and loving people and that our homes are a place where they can relax and be themselves.

Let’s make sure when all the festivities are over and they are leaving our homes that they go away feeling happier and more loved than when they arrived.

I have a private Facebook group for moms of lgbtq kids. The group was created especially for open minded Christian moms who have lgbtq kids and want to learn to love and support their lgbtq kids in a way that helps them grow into the best version of who they were created to be. The group has more than 2,300 moms and is a place where a lot of support and information is shared each day. Our motto is “We Are Better Together” and we call ourselves “Mama Bears” because our love is both cuddly and fierce. If you are mom to an lgbtq kid and would like to join the community you can email lizdyer55@gmail.com